The disappearing hitchhiker is one of the hoariest urban legends, and no one knows that better than Gabriel Walsh, a lawyer who grew up on folklore and myth. When author of books on the supernatural Patrick brings Gabriel a case of a hitchhiking woman in white who vanished on a country road after accepting a ride from a businessman, Gabriel knows the Cainsville elder is just trying to wheedle into his good graces. But Gabriel is a man in need of a mystery, one that will get him back into someone else’s good graces. His investigator, Olivia Taylor-Jones, has blown town supposedly on a simple vacation. But when she left there was a rift between them and…he misses her.

Gabriel is well aware the only thing Olivia loves more than a good mystery is a weird one, and this hitchhiker case more than fits the bill. As Gabriel digs into the story, he’s forced to face ghosts of his own and admit that the woman in white isn’t the only one who has lost her way.

With Lost Souls, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong weaves an unmissable novella-length tale connected to her fan-favorite Cainsville series.

How many more of Kelley’s books can I read? Meh. All of them. Kelley takes you on a mystery-packed adventure that will surely satisfy her Cainsville fans.

After his disastrous reaction of finding out he’s the reincarnation of Gwyn ap Nudd, the king of the faries, Gabriel Walsh tries to find a way to get onto Olivia’s good side. So when Patrick, a Cainsville elder and Gabriel’s father, comes to him with an intriguing case of a woman who disappears after accepting a ride from a man, Gabriel takes it. But this case is more than it appears to be, and he must come to terms with his past and his ghosts. Set between Deceptions and Betrayals, Lost Souls blends together urban fantasy with lore to create a fascinating novella.

I admit I’m a huge Cainsville lover. Kelley thrives in her mystery and modern gothic series. For the last several years, I’ve been giddily awaiting to jump back into Olivia’s world. You get mix of fae and Welsh lore, huge dose of mystery, and––come on, you know I am leading up to this point––steamy male characters. So when I found out the book is split between Gabriel’s and Patrick’s POVs, I couldn’t wait to pick it up, even though my bank account said otherwise.

Kelley takes inspiration from lore and urban legends, but she twists them to make them her own. Her stories often turn into character-driven pieces. The Cainsville series itself has captivated me since Omens. I cannot get enough of it. So having a continuation of Cainsville just adds more layers to an already complex series. With Lost Souls, you get a better understanding of Gabriel and his inability to have people in his life. I’ll always be on the fence about him, because I feel that Gwyn holds more sway on him than Arawn has with Ricky. Obviously Gabriel’s past continues to control his present and future, but there’s no excuse for his behaviour toward the people he loves. But with this new insight, at least I feel that I can see why he acts this way and maybe acknowledge his reasoning behind his coldness.

Subterranean Press books are a luxury I’m willing to pay for. So expect gorgeous design, beautiful interior illustrations, and an engaging storyline. My hat is off to Xavière. She possesses an uncanny talent to capture any scene in Kelley’s work. And finally I can see what Liv, Ricky, Gabriel, Patrick, and Rose look like!

So if you’re a Kelley Armstrong and Cainsville fan, Lost Souls will be a treat for you. It opens up Gabriel’s world, shows you, for once, Patrick’s guilt of not being there for his son, and lets you watch Liv and Gabriel’s friendship grow.